January 7, 2016

Lottie Mae Vanhoy
Lottie Mae Tatum Vanhoy, 90, of Waycross, died Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 6, 2016) at Satilla Care Center after an extended illness.
She was born in Ware County to the late George Hamilton Tatum Jr. and Lottie Melissa Wildes Tatum. She made Ware County her home for all of her life. She worked as a telephone operator for Southern Bell Telephone Company before her retirement on April 26, 1971 after many years of service.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. She enjoyed spending time at Fernandina Beach, and visiting her husband’s family in North Carolina. More than anything she loved her family. She loved her brothers and sisters, their families and any time she was able to spend with them.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, B.G. Vanhoy, a brother, James Hamilton “Hamp” Tatum, and four sisters, Lavenia Bell Tatum, Margaret Simerly, Doris Douglas and Melissie Howell.
She is survived by two grandchildren, Clayton Lee (wife, Chelley), of Hortense, Candace Robertson (husband, Joel), of St. Marys; six great-grandchildren, Hailey, Kinsley, Brayden, Skyler, Chesney, Gavin; two sisters, Kathleen Pedrick, of Waycross, Jane Bennett (husband, John), of Waycross; three brothers, George L. Tatum Sr., of Waycross, Elias A. Tatum (wife, Jo), of Waycross, Toomer M. Tatum (wife, Betty Sue), of Waycross; a step-son, Ronnie Dyer (wife, Betty), and their family, of Troy, N.C.; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A funeral will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at First Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Kettle Creek Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6 until 8 o’clock at Miles-Odum Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Satilla, 808 Evergreen Way, Waycross, Ga. 31501.
Sympathy may be expressed at www.milesodumfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are with Miles-Odum Funeral Home.

Leroy Williams Sr.
A celebration of life service for Bishop Leroy Williams Sr. will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Church of Christ Written in Heaven, 617 Blackwell St., where Bishop John Moss is pastor and his pastor, Apostle Leonard Goode, offering words of comfort.
Interment will be in Oakland cemetery.
The body will lie in repose Saturday from 9 a.m. to the hour of service.
Public Visitation will be held Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Fluker Funeral Home, 985 Ossie Davis Parkway.
He was born Feb. 21, 1949 in Waycross to the late Bishop David Williams and the late Mother Estelle Britton Williams. He received his formal education in the public school system both of Waycross and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Bishop Williams departed this life Jan. 1, 2016 at Coffee Regional Medical Center, Douglas, after a brief illness.
He accepted Christ as his personal Savior and joined First Born Church of the Living God under the leadership of Pastor Bonnie Lee Williams and Bishop David Williams. In July 2003 he was ordained and licensed as a bishop by Overseer Bonnie L. Williams in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In December 2003 he founded New Beginnings Church of the Living God in Waycross. In November 2005, he joined Cathedral of Faith Church of the Living God in Waycross under the leadership of Apostle Leonard Goode where he served faithfully in various capacities including Sunday School teacher, diocese administrator and superintendent.
He was joined in holy matrimony to Bernice Easton in February 1974. He was a former employee of the City of Waycross for 25 years, Southland Waste Inc. for 12 years and was presently employed with CSX Transportation as a transport driver.
In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth Tyrone Williams, a grandson, Leroy Williams, a niece, Sonya L. Johnson, and a great-nephew, Isaiah Levon Blue.
Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Mother Bernice E. Williams; two sons, Leroy Williams Jr., of Cocoa, Fla., and Demetric Williams, of Atlanta; two daughters, Jackie Williams, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Charlene Delores Williams, of Waycross; his father, Bishop David Williams, of Waycross; two god-sons, E.J. Chatman and Elijah Chatman, both of Waycross; a god-daughter, Shelia Outler, of Waycross; seven brothers, Apostle Ronnie L. Williams, David Williams III, Jimmy L. Williams, Michael R. Williams (Eileen), all of Waycross, Pastor Timothy Williams (Claudette), of Lakeland, Ga., John Henry Williams (Gladys) and Milton M. Williams (Ann), both of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; three sisters, Mother Barbara Jenkins, Apostle Diane Blue, both of Waycross, and Pamela Louise Bessent, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Friends are being received at the Williams residence, 3310 North St.
Final arrangements are entrusted to Fluker Funeral Home.

William H. Crawford
BLACKSHEAR — William Hardridge “Bill” Crawford, 80, of Blackshear, passed away Wednesday morning (Jan. 6, 2016) at the Pierce County Nursing Home.
Born in Blackshear, May 11, 1935, he lived in Pierce County all of his life. He worked at Crawford Cabinets for a while and enjoyed riding his three-wheeler around the neighborhood. He was a member of the McDonald’s Coffee Club and loved to spend time with his family, especially the family reunions.
He was a son of the late Jasper and Ocie Harris Crawford. He was also preceded in death by three sisters, Lois Howard, Loretta Crawford and Louise Dixon, and five brothers, J. Hugh Crawford, Gerod Crawford, Jasper Crawford Jr., Eugene Crawford and Cecil Crawford.
Survivors include his sister, Lillian Smiley, of Blackshear; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jesse and Gladys Crawford, of Blackshear, and Donald and Leola Crawford, of Pooler; two other sisters-in-law, Margie and Wayne Hutchinson and Kathleen Crawford, all of Blackshear; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
The funeral will be held Friday morning at 11 o’clock in the Pearson-Dial Chapel.
Interment will be in the Ramah Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.
The family requests that employees of the Pierce County Nursing Home serve as honorary pallbearers. They are asked to meet at the funeral home by 10:30 Friday morning.
Memorials may be made to the Pierce County Nursing Home Family Council, 221 Carter Ave., Blackshear, Ga. 31516.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home, Inc. of Blackshear is in charge of the arrangements.

Laura Ann GroomsWAYNESVILLE — Laura Ann Chancy Grooms, 75, of Waynesville, passed away Tuesday afternoon (Jan. 5, 2016) at Hospice of the Golden Isles in Brunswick after an extended illness.
Born in Tyler, Mo., she was the daughter of Jess Willard and Kathryn Mahaley Buttram Chancy. She was also preceded in death by her husband, John Calvin Grooms, a son, Hollis Grooms, a sister, Kathryn Mathis, and three brothers, Corinthian Chancy, Joel Dean Chancy and Jess Willard Chancy Jr.
She was a homemaker and a member of The Potters Field Church. She also loved spending time with her family, her church family and reading.
Survivors include her three daughters and sons-in-law, Mecia Ann and Mark Hubbard, of Brunswick, Cathryn and James Rhoden, of Waynesville, and Ginger and Jay Nichols, of Brunswick; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Olan and Betty Chancy, of Brunswick, and David Chancy, of Tennessee; a sister and brother-in-law, Bobbie Grooms and Curtis Tanner, of South Carolina; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A visitation will be held at 1 p.m., prior to the service Saturday at Bethlehem Cemetery.
A graveside service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Bethlehem Cemetery with the Rev. Jimmy Mathis officiating.
Arrangements are with Frye Funeral Home, Nahunta.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at www.fryefh.com